From making his mark as a promising young footballer to becoming one of Egypt's most recognised domestic coaches, Ali Maher's journey has come full circle following his appointment as head coach of the Egyptian national football team.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced that Maher, who previously managed Ceramica Cleopatra, would take charge of the national team, succeeding Hossam Hassan and his coaching staff.
The appointment reflects the EFA's continued commitment to giving promising Egyptian talents the opportunity to lead the country's national teams, with Maher now facing the biggest challenge of his coaching career: leading the Pharaohs.
According to the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) Ali Maher Born on 3 December 1973, he holds a professional coaching licence from the Confederation of African Football (CAF). His football journey began in 1989 when he joined the youth sector at Tersana SC, earning promotion to the first team in 1991.
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He remained with Tersana until 1994 before moving to Saudi Arabia, where he spent the 1994&ndash;1995 season with Al-Ansar. Upon returning to Egypt, he joined Al Ahly, where he remained until 2002.
However, a serious injury in the late 1990s, following a violent challenge by Malian goalkeeper Mohamed Sidi Beye of El Qanah, affected his playing career. Maher eventually retired from professional football in 2004 after spending his final season with ENPPI.
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From the Pitch to the National Team
Maher's talent also shone on the international stage, particularly with Egypt's Olympic team. He played a key role in the squad's gold-medal triumph at the 1995 All-Africa Games in Harare, Zimbabwe, scoring twice in the final against the hosts as Egypt secured a 3-1 victory.
His performances earned him a place among the young players promoted to the senior national team under Dutch coach Ruud Krol. Maher went on to impress at the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, scoring against Cameroon during the group stage.
Building a Coaching Career at Al Ahly
Following his retirement, Maher returned to football through coaching, beginning in Al Ahly's youth sector before moving into an assistant coaching role alongside several prominent managers.
He worked with Spanish coach Juan Carlos Garrido, contributing to Al Ahly's 2014 CAF Confederation Cup triumph against Ivorian side S&eacute;w&eacute; Sport.
His coaching career at the club also saw him work alongside Mohamed Youssef, Fathi Mabrouk, and Abdelaziz Abdel Shafy. During this period, he was part of the coaching staff that celebrated several major titles, including the 2013 CAF Champions League victory against South Africa's Orlando Pirates and the 2015 Egyptian Super Cup triumph against Zamalek in the UAE.
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Establishing Himself as a Head Coach
After gaining experience alongside some of the game's leading managers, Maher took his first steps as a head coach in the second division, leading Nogoom El Mostakbal during the 2015&ndash;2016 season before taking charge of Tersana in 2016.
He made his Egyptian Premier League debut with Assiouty Sport, later renamed Pyramids FC, during the 2017&ndash;2018 season.
His managerial journey subsequently took him to several Egyptian Premier League clubs, including Smouha, ENPPI, Al Masry, and Future FC, now known as Modern Sport.
One of his major achievements during this period came with Future FC, whom he guided to the 2021&ndash;2022 Egypt Capital Cup title, marking an important milestone in his growing managerial career.
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Success with Ceramica Cleopatra
Maher continued to build his reputation after taking charge of Ceramica Cleopatra, demonstrating his tactical abilities and capacity to compete for domestic silverware.
He guided the club to the Egypt Capital Cup title in the penultimate edition of the competition, further strengthening his standing among Egypt's leading coaches.
Under his leadership, Ceramica Cleopatra also achieved a historic fourth-place finish in the Egyptian Premier League last season, collecting 44 points and recording the best league finish in the club's history.
Beyond his silverware and league achievements, Maher has also earned recognition for his role in developing young footballing talents who went on to represent Egypt at the national level.
His contribution to nurturing emerging players dates back to his time in Al Ahly's youth sector, where he helped bring Mohamed Hassan Trezeguet into the spotlight. He also played a role in the development of Islam Issa at Ceramica Cleopatra, alongside other talents, including the late Ahmed Refaat during his time at Future FC.
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A New Chapter with the Pharaohs
Following his achievements at club level, Maher has been selected by the Egyptian Football Association's board, headed by Hany Abou Rida, to succeed Hossam Hassan as head coach of the senior national team.
His new chapter with the Pharaohs is set to begin this month, with Egypt scheduled to face Malawi in Cairo on 13 November 2026 in the third round of Group B of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The two sides will meet again away from home on 17 November in the fourth round.
From his early days at Tersana to his international achievements as a player, his experience at Al Ahly, and his success with several Egyptian clubs, Maher now takes on the biggest responsibility of his career, with the hopes of Egyptian football resting on his ability to lead the national team forward.
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Photo Credit: Cleopatra FC&rsquo;s official page
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